Chat Application

Welcome to the Chat Application project! This is a web-based chat application that utilizes WebSockets to enable real-time communication between users. Below you'll find all the information you need to get started with the project.

Features

• Real-time messaging
• User authentication
• Private and group chats
• Typing indicators
• Message notifications
• Multiple Chat Rooms

Technologies Used

Frontend:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JavaScript (ES6)

Backend:

• Node.js
• WebSocket (ws library)

Installation

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following installed on your machine:

• Node.js (version 14 or higher)
• npm (version 6 or higher)

Steps

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/chat-application.git
   cd chat-application

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Set up environment variables: Create a .env file in the root directory and add the following:

   PORT=3500

4. Start the server:

   npm start

5. Open the application: Navigate to http://localhost:3500 in your web browser.

Usage

1. Open the Application: Navigate to http://localhost:3500 in your web browser.

2. Start Chatting:

   • Enter a chat room name to create or join a room.
   • Send messages in real-time and see messages from other users instantly.

3. Additional Features:

   • View typing indicators when other users are typing.
   • Receive notifications for new messages.

Project Structure

chat-application/
├── public/                 # Static assets
│   ├── index.html          # Main HTML file
│   └── styles.css          # CSS file
├── server/                 # Backend code (Node.js, WebSocket)
│   ├── index.js            # Entry point for the server
├── .gitignore              # Git ignore file
└── README.md               # Readme file

Contributing

We welcome contributions to the Chat Application project! To contribute:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch: git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name.
3. Make your changes and commit them: git commit -m 'Add some feature'.
4. Push to the branch: git push origin feature/your-feature-name.
5. Submit a pull request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.